Title Here

Title Here

Title Here

Agricultural Resource Lands Study

Agricultural Resource Lands Study The Washington State Growth Management Act requires counties to designate Agricultural Resource Lands (ARL) which “have long-term significance for the commercial production of food or other agricultural products”. To meet state requirements, Pierce County has established these criteria for ARL parcels:

Five acres or greater

Contain at least 50% “prime farmland” soils

Grass/legume production yield of 3.5 tons per acre or greater

50% of abutting parcels are larger than 1 acre

Landowner may request the designation

For 2016, the Pierce County Council authorized funding a study of agriculture and ARL “conducting an evaluation and providing a report on agricultural land in Pierce County that has long-term significance for the commercial production of food or other agricultural products.”

Independent Expert Team

An independent team led by Barney & Worth, Inc. is conducting the new study of Pierce County agriculture and the ARL designation process. Members of the team bring extensive agricultural, scientific, legal, and economic expertise to the project. The consultant team is analyzing the current condition of Pierce County agriculture and evaluating the effectiveness of the County's zoning regulations for protecting commercially viable agricultural lands. The County's current ARL criteria will be revisited, with consideration given to alternatives. A series of technical reports will illuminate various aspects of farmland protections. The project will be completed in late summer 2016.